§ 9-1-32. Effect of alteration of product after sale.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Person injured” means the person who sustained damages because of personal injury, death, or property damage.
(2) “Product liability damages” means damages because of personal injury, death, or property damage sustained by reason of an alleged defect in a product, or an alleged failure to warn or protect against a danger or hazard in the use or misuse of the product, or an alleged failure to instruct properly in the use of a product.
(3) “Subsequent alteration or modification” means an alteration or modification of a product made subsequent to the manufacture or sale by the manufacturer or seller that altered, modified, or changed the purpose, use, function, design, or manner of use of the product from that originally designed, tested, or intended by the manufacturer, or the purpose, use, function, design, or manner of use or intended use for which the product was originally designed, tested, or manufactured.
(b) Any defense claimed by the manufacturer or seller that the person injured made a subsequent alteration or modification to the product that is found to be a significant contributing factor to the injury, death, or property damage shall be controlled by the comparative negligence provisions of § 9-20-4.
History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 299, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 387, § 1, effective July 13, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 388, § 1, effective July 13, 2021.
P.L. 2021, ch. 387, § 2, provides that the amendment to this section by that act takes effect on passage [July 13, 2021] and “shall only apply to causes of action and claims arising after the effective date of this act.”
P.L. 2021, ch. 388, § 2, provides that the amendment to this section by that act takes effect on passage [July 13, 2021] and “shall only apply to causes of action and claims arising after the effective date of this act.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 9 - Courts and Civil Procedure – Procedure Generally
Chapter 9-1 - Causes of Action
Section 9-1-1. - Action on promissory note.
Section 9-1-2. - Civil liability for crimes and offenses.
Section 9-1-2.1. - Civil liability for stalking.
Section 9-1-3. - Liability of parents for torts of minors.
Section 9-1-3.1. - Liability of parents and unemancipated minors for torts to each other.
Section 9-1-4. - Statute of frauds.
Section 9-1-5. - Liability of landlord for improvements to real estate by tenant by oral lease.
Section 9-1-6. - Causes and actions surviving death of parties.
Section 9-1-7. - Prosecution and defense of actions by executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-8. - Actual damages only to be granted after death of party.
Section 9-1-9. - Survival of actions for the recovery of possession of land.
Section 9-1-10. - Settlement of real estate title in action involving executor or administrator.
Section 9-1-11. - Survival of claims for damages in laying out of highways.
Section 9-1-12. - When action is commenced for purposes of statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-13. - Limitation of actions generally — Product liability.
Section 9-1-14. - Limitation of actions for words spoken or personal injuries.
Section 9-1-14.1. - Limitation on malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.2. - Limitation of “Agent Orange” or phenoxy herbicides actions.
Section 9-1-14.3. - Limitation on legal malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-14.4. - Limitations on home inspector malpractice actions.
Section 9-1-15, 9-1-16. - Repealed.
Section 9-1-17. - Limitation of actions on contracts or liabilities under seal and on judgments.
Section 9-1-18. - Effect of absence from state on limitations.
Section 9-1-19. - Disability postponing running of statute.
Section 9-1-20. - Time of accrual of concealed cause of action.
Section 9-1-21. - Effect of death of party on statute of limitations.
Section 9-1-22. - Extension of time after termination of action.
Section 9-1-23. - Effect of joinder of counts on limitation.
Section 9-1-24. - Special limitations provisions unaffected.
Section 9-1-25. - Time for bringing suit against state, political subdivision, city, or town.
Section 9-1-26. - Liability of hospitals.
Section 9-1-27. - Police and firefighters — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.1. - Good Samaritan — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.2. - Court appointed special advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-27.3. - Court appointed law clerk advocate program — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-28. - Action for unauthorized use of name, portrait, or picture.
Section 9-1-28.1. - Right to privacy — Action for deprivation of right.
Section 9-1-29. - Constructors of improvements to real property — Immunity from liability.
Section 9-1-31.1. - Members of public bodies — Exemption from liability.
Section 9-1-32. - Effect of alteration of product after sale.
Section 9-1-33. - Insurer’s bad faith refusal to pay a claim made under any insurance policy.
Section 9-1-35. - Civil action for ethnic or religious intimidation and/or vandalism.
Section 9-1-36. - Enumeration of statutes of limitation.
Section 9-1-37. - Enumeration of periods of appeal.
Section 9-1-38. - Limitation of actions for medical expenses incurred by minors.
Section 9-1-39. - Civil action for desecration.
Section 9-1-40. - Civil liability for nonpayment of accident and sickness insurance by employer.
Section 9-1-41. - Loss of consortium — Loss of society and companionship.
Section 9-1-43. - Civil action for childsnatching.
Section 9-1-44. - Civil action for release of names of minors.
Section 9-1-45. - Attorney’s fees in breach of contract actions.
Section 9-1-46. - Affirmative defense of trespasser’s intent to commit a crime.
Section 9-1-47. - Loss of homemaker services.
Section 9-1-48. - Immunity from civil liability — Sports teams.
Section 9-1-49. - Correct corporate name and registered agent — Duty to provide.
Section 9-1-50. - Settled claims not paid within thirty (30) days.
Section 9-1-51. - Limitation on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
Section 9-1-52. - Cause of action for next lowest bidding qualified contractor.
Section 9-1-53. - Misclassification of employees — Civil action.
Section 9-1-54. - Civil action against employer by employee under subpoena.